Best Small Propane Grill 2023 (Top 10 Picks)

Are you looking for the best small propane grill? We tried many small grills from different brands and found only a couple of them that are efficient and are the value of money.

Here are the top ten products based on our experience for your better decision.

Best Small Propane Grill (Top 10 Picks)

1. Masterbuilt SH19030819 Propane Tabletop Grill

Masterbuilt is a name famous in the grill market. They have been around for a long time, and that speaks for their credibility:

• Material is stainless steel
• Dimensions are 17.24 x 27.36 x 2.08 inches
• Weighs 17.8 pounds
• U-shaped burner for heat distribution
• The lid has a lock
• Folding legs
• Push-button ignition

At 10000 btu, this propane grill is one of the best for a quick grilling session!

When I used it at a campsite, it had a faster warm-up and significantly shorter cooking times, and that’s what you primarily need on a trip. Steaks were ready to serve in no time.

Also, the handle for the grill is large enough to make carrying it for long distances comfortable.

Even weight-wise, I didn’t feel much burden when I took it for a hike with my family. The journey was smooth.

What stood out for me was that after I initially faced some issue with the burner, I contacted customer service, and they delivered me a new propane grill within three days!

There was no hassle, asking for detailed proofs and so on.

However, the handle is a bit difficult to install, and you have to be careful about placing the screws in the right place, or it will stay loose.

Pros

• Stainless steel
• Lightweight, i.e., 17.8 pounds
• Efficient heat distribution system
• Portable (has foldable legs)
• 10,000 BTU
• A large handle makes it easier to carry it long distance
• Shorter cooking times
• Optimum grill to carry on trips

Cons

• Assembly is a bit tricky
• The handle loosens up after a time
• people have a problem handling the burner sometimes.

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2. Char-Broil Portable 240 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

• Black in color
• Weighs 21.3 pounds
• Stainless steel
• 240 square inch cooking area
• Used with 1lb propane tanks
• Porcelain body
• Lid-mounted temperature gauge

I have used it for over three years for grilling different food items, and I realized that it is excellent for hamburgers, hotdogs, and small pieces of meat. It only took me 15-20 minutes to grill these, and they turned out to be perfect. 

The assembly part was not too hard; I am not good with putting together components, and I was pleasantly surprised when I assembled it without help and in a short period. Manual was a great help.

The best thing was that this propane grill gets very hot; in cold temperatures, it gets chilly outdoors, so grill reaching 500-625 degrees (with the lid closed) means that you will cook the steaks generously and quickly relatively.

One problem that I faced was that their post-delivery service was not up to the mark; I contacted them as I encountered some confusion in running it, and the support was not very helpful.

Pros

• Porcelain body
• Easy to assemble
• Works well in cold temperatures
• ideal for burgers, sandwiches, and medium meat slices

Cons

• Aftersales service is not good

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3. Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill

Weber’s grills have had great reviews over the years, be it small or big ones. Let’s look at the characteristics of this propane grill, its recent produce:

• Made up of cast iron, aluminum
• Available in 6 different colors
• Weighs 1 pound
• 189 square inch cooking area
• 8500 BTU
• Uses 14.1 or 16.4 oz LP cylinder
• Electronic ignition
• Infinite valve settings
• Nylon frame

I liked how this propane grill had a convenient and inexpensive grease system that used disposable aluminum trays that slid in place under the grill. This feature improved my grilling experienced significantly.

The thermometer in the lid also made grilling more convenient; I didn’t have to check up my steaks if they were done manually; I could quickly tell by the propane grill’s temperature. The 5-year warranty was a plus too.

The size of the cooking area suited me well; there was enough space for my husband and me to cook together; he grilled the veggies, and I did the steaks.

The room is enough to grill four steaks at a time, so less time standing!

Also, the grate sticks are non-stick, making them easier for me to clean later.

The grill was sturdy, and the side tables had space larger than I had expected, which I used to keep the utensils.

One minor issue was that it didn’t heat up nicely at higher altitudes; I expected it to cook in less time, but it worked well at lower altitudes. 

Pros

• Efficient grease management system
• Electronic ignition
• 8500 BTU
• Built of cast iron and stainless steel
• Infinite valve settings
• 5-year warranty
• It comes with a thermometer to check the temperature of the grill
• Spacious side table

Cons

• It does not work very well at higher altitudes

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4. Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grill

• Material is alloy steel
• Available in 3 colors
• Item weighs 1kg
• 145 square inch grilling area
• 5500 BTU
• Porcelain-enameled grate
• Integrated lid lock

It is small and weighs so little meant that I’ll use it twenty times more. I would not think twice before inviting friends over for a quick hamburger party.

The grill has space for eight hamburger patties at once, not bad for a small grill.

The propane grill does not only work well but looks nice too! My friends found it to fit well with my outdoor furniture, and it matches the overall aesthetic of my lawn. I got myself the black one.

Also, there is no assembly as such, so that is a plus! I took it out of the box, and straight-up started using it in no time.

You have to connect it to gas. One-click and it fires right up, and you can start to grill after it heats up.

One problem I faced was that the burners did not light evenly after some time, which meant that I had to be extra careful while grilling.

Pros

• Spacious grill
• 5500 BTUS
• Porcelain-enamelled grate
• No assembly. Unwrap the packaging and start working.

Cons

• Alloy steel
• With time, burners lose their spark and do not light evenly.

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5. Megamaster 820-0065C Propane Gas Grill

Megamaster has produced multiple gas grills, but this is the one we like best. Following are some of the features of the product, along with its pros and cons:

• Weighs 14.2 pounds
• Available in red-black color
• Stainless steel
• Heat-resistant coating finish
• 11000 BTU
• 360 square inch cooking area
• Requires assembly

I found the price reasonable; it is a pretty good deal for a grill of this size. At this price, either you get a propane grill with a BTU of 6000 or below, or you get one that has a smaller cooking area.

As someone who got used to the charcoal grill and got comfortable with those, I did not expect to shift to gas grills.

This company made me do it; it is easy to transport for miles and gets folded into a small package with three handles.

Also, it is compatible with the 1lb propane tank, the most readily available gas tank out there. This feature meant that I did not have to get into the trouble of finding cylinders or tanks that sit well with this propane grill.

However, you should note that it comes 100% disassembled, so you would have to spend some time to put it together before you can start using it.

Pros

• Stainless steel
• 11000 BTU
• Reasonable price
• Portable
• Compatible with 1lb propane tank, i.e. the most readily available tank out there.

Cons

• Have to be assembled 100%
• It can be challenging to understand the assembly manual.

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6. Huntington 24025 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

• Weighs 38.5 pounds
• Material is aluminum and porcelain
• Weather-resistant shelves
• It comes with a panel
• Wire cooking grids
• Heat-resistant handle
• Push-button ignition system

Despite its tiny appearance, it heats up fast and can quickly cook up food for 4-6 people, perfect for a small couples’ gathering. Having owned it for a couple of months now, I can tell you that it gets the job done well.

Although it comes fully disassembled, it only took me about an hour to put it together, maybe even less.

The instructions are a pictorial guide, but I suggest you watch the assembling video on YouTube; it will be of great help.

For a grill as sturdy as this, the price is reasonable. After using this propane grill, I was so impressed that I bought another one for my sister, and both are excellent. The steaks grill is so good!

One issue is that I have to ignite it manually most of the time. The electronic button does not work.

However, it wasn’t much of a problem with me, but I had to point it out.

 Pros

• Push button ignition system
• Heats up fast
• Best for cooking food for 4-6 people
• Price is reasonable
• Durability is high

 Cons

• The electronic button fails to perform its function after a time
• Manual igniting can be a hassle.

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7. Coleman Gas Grill

Coleman is a compact grill with outstanding reviews. Following are some of the features of the product:

• Blended material
• Available in red and black color
• Weighs 25.59 pounds
• Cooking power is 11000 BTU
• 225 square inch cooking area
• Two adjustable burners
• Suitable with 16.4oz propane cylinder
• 3-year warranty

The propane grill design is such that it makes it easy to store when not in use. Since we use this grill at home, I found the heat rather perfect; the steaks grilled so well. 

I want to tell you that although the grill uses a 1lb cylinder, you would need an adapter if you wanted to hook it up with your 20lb or larger tank of gas.

Also, it was a breeze to clean it, which is hardly the case with most of the grills! You have to put water in the drip pan, which covers fundamental elements inside, and then you can lift it right out and dump. It just wipes clean.

Since the propane grill is cast iron with enamel, one must use a wooden spatula instead of metal spatulas or tongs.

However, keep in mind that the two-zone temperature control is not one-sided the way it should be but rather an inner and outer burner.

 Pros

• 11000 BTU
• Adjustable burners
• 3-year warranty
• Easy to store when not in use
• Easier to clean

Cons

• Requires an adaptor to connect with a larger tank of gas
• Two-zone temperature control is just okay

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8. MASTER COOK 3 Burner BBQ Propane Gas Grill

• Black in color
• Made up of stainless steel
• Cooking power is 30000 BTU
• Three burners
• Electric ignition
• It comes with foldable tables and wheel casters
• 339 square inch cooking area
• Wire cooking grates

As I mentioned above, the grill has a cooking power of 30k BTU, which, to be honest, is impressive. When I was grilling hotdogs, they heated up quickly and maintained their temperature.

Also, I was pleased to find out that smaller grills have a lesser carbon footprint. Keeping the environment clean is a cause close to my heart, and thus, reduced propane usage would mitigate global warming.

As someone who isn’t the most mechanically inclined, I managed to assemble it myself in an hour! The screws were already in place, and it came partially made. I just had to join the pieces.

At the same time, note that the quality of the hood is not excellent, so if the temperature rises too much, it might start to melt a bit.

Pros

• Stainless steel
• 30000 BTU
• Electric ignition
• Foldable table
• 3 adjustable burners
• Less carbon footprint
• Easy assembly
• Environment friendly

      Cons

• Questionable quality of the hood
• The hood heats up when the temperature rises

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9. Pit Boss 75275 Portable Grill

Pit Boss is a relatively new brand in the market, and thus I was skeptical about its quality but was pleasantly surprised. Below are some of its features mentioned:

• Weighs 27 pounds
• 10000 BTU cooking power
• Latching hood
• Push ignition

The stainless grade is what stood out for me; it was solid and durable. I have been using this grill for over a year now, and the grate did not get rusty or black but rather still grills the same, if not better.

I, for one, bought an adapter to run 1lb tanks, which is perfect for tailgating and will save your Sunday BBQ if you run out of propane in your big tank and get a couple 1lb tanks lying around.

Also, the latches on either side of the grill lock the lid shut and holds the grill grate in place. Thus, it is highly suitable for transportation, be it to the beach house or the mountains!

A con is that the bottom of the grill will collect grease. What I do is that I lay down the foil and periodically change it to keep it clean.

Pros

• No assembly required
• It comes with a bracket, so it can easily be mounted to cars
• 12000 BTU
• Hanging rack, so legs are very manageable

Cons

• The positioning of the burner is not so efficient, so it has been adjusted after the purchase.

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10. Flame King Motorhome Gas Grill

• Silver in color
• No assembly required
• It comes with a bracket to mount it to RV
• 12000 BTU cooking power
• 214 square inches grilling area
• Hanging rack suitable for legs

The biggest plus of this propane grill was that it gets attached to your RV rather perfectly; my camper already had a swing-out mounting bracket on the rear bumper.

I drilled through the bracket and put a bolt and nut through them to leave the BBQ bracket mounted while driving. I only have to detach the grill and put it away.

The two mounting options added convenience to the usage, at least for me. On my camping trip, where space was limited and the ground was not flat, mounting it to RV helped. Otherwise, on my lawn, I always make it stand.

One flaw that I noticed was that the burner was at an angle inside the housing, which would affect the cooking. The good thing is you can reposition the burner.

Pros

• 10000 BTU
• Push system
• The exceptional quality of the stainless grate
• Latching hoods hold the grill in a steady position
• Highly suitable for trips

Cons

• Grease accumulates at the bottom of the grill.
• New brand in the market; hence long-term reliability is still not tested.

 

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Factors to Consider Before Buying:

• Grilling area: the type of grill you should get depends on where you’ll keep the grill. If it’s at your home, you should buy the one with legs and wheels so you can move it around. If you use this propane grill for camping, the focus will be on the grill being light and compact.
• Build quality: Cast iron is the best kind of material, and so is stainless steel. They might cost a bit more so if you are okay with that, pick these.
• Brand: some brands are more known for grills than others, so if you are a safe player, go for the available brands, which might be relatively expensive. However, if you don’t mind trying out new things, you might end up buying something better at a lower price, but there is a risk involved.

How we tested?

You’re browsing the internet, reading every item that pops up, yet you’re still perplexed. You want an opinion on the usefulness of the product you’re considering purchasing. So, no more waiting. In this guide, I’ll talk about my experiences with several BBQ grills. After reading this post, you will understand what to look for when purchasing the ideal grill for your event.

Grates, oil pans, heating coils, and burners are all standard equipment for every gas grill. While these components are essential for the grill to perform appropriately, it is still crucial to know what they are capable of and what other features are available when shopping for a gas grill.

The durability of the material

Here, you only have to ensure that the burners and grates are made of stainless steel or cast iron.

Burners are one of the most important components of any barbecue since they are responsible for supplying heat to the grill. When it comes to burners, one vital characteristic to keep in mind is the material they are made of.

In spite of the fact that they tell you that the grates have been enameled or coated with porcelain to avoid rusting and to prolong the amount of time they may be functional, the grates continue to disintegrate. Even though stainless steel was used in the design of the majority of the barbecue grills I evaluated, I still faced the issue of corrosion.

I also found a solution to it when I was using the Coleman gas grill. The grill’s simplicity in assembly and disassembly made it simple for me to find a suitable place to keep it while it wasn’t in use. When I wasn’t using my barbecue grill for long periods, I stored it in a dry, warm area, scrubbed off the coating, and got into dry-frying the grids.

It’s understandable if you feel like the effort required to learn the content isn’t worth it. Well, you should know that the outside won’t rust or corrode because it’s composed of stainless steel. The body of the grill isn’t the only part that will survive for decades.

BTU

To put it plainly, BTU ratings can be misleading. Your grill’s BTU is equivalent to the total heat output of all burners in an hour. However, this is only the case for the primary burners, which are the most important and are situated directly below the cooking grate.

In order to make a grill seem more powerful than it actually is, many manufacturers additionally list the BTU of the side burners and even the rotator.

Keep in mind that quantity isn’t necessarily indicative of quality. The grill will consume more gas in proportion to the BTU rating. Your gas consumption will skyrocket if you get a barbecue with a single massive burner or numerous burners that cannot be adjusted separately.

I utilized a Masterbuilt Propane table top 10,000 BTU grill at a campsite; however, the reason was that the temperature was relatively low, and the circumstances required a more significant flame. The higher BTU was also a consequence of the significantly greater cooking area.

On the other hand, although operating at 5500 Btu, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill was able to grill ten burger patties simultaneously without any problems successfully. The cooking space’s size, 145 square inches, was an important aspect to consider.

Therefore, I recommend that you examine the various proportions of the cooking space to the BTU before selecting one for your event.

Size and weight

I’ll try to make this very easy for you. Reserve a 100-square-foot space on your grill for each person you cook for. This includes a variety of hot dogs, hamburgers, and other foods. I’m being a bit generous here, but I’m speaking from experience, and believe me, you don’t want to stand for too long at a gathering of 50 people.

However, if you are travelling and want to select the optimal size and weight, Choose ones that fold up and can easily fit into your car/truck. The master cook three-burner BBQ barbecue serves the purpose very well. It has folding tables and wheel casters, making it incredibly portable.

Also, the assembly was simple, producing 30,000 BTU, which is quite a lot. The cooking area is restricted to 340 square inches to ease portability. You might want to put aside the 100 sq inch condition I mentioned earlier.

Type of igniter

In this rapidly evolving world, you will hardly find any conventional gas igniters. Most of the best grills have an electronic ignition system. Let me provide you with an overview of how it works.

• After the gas supply has been activated, the ignition switch has to be pressed to start a fire.
• Some electronic ignitions are activated by pressing a button, which then causes the electric starter to initiate the operation.
• Because of this movement, a spark will leap from the electrode rod onto the ground plate. The gas will catch fire as soon as the rod is introduced into the flow of gas and sparks.

Electronic ignition is not only safer but also much quicker than traditional methods. It helps me maintain a calm state of mind. When it comes to asking my friends over for a barbecue, I don’t have to give it much thought. It eliminates a significant amount of the additional labour necessary to operate a traditional barbecue grill. With a contemporary grill, all you need to do is hook it up to the gas supply. It only takes one click to turn it on, and as soon as it’s hot enough, you can begin grilling food on it.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

What other factors should I look into when buying a barbeque grill?

The effectiveness of a gas grill may be evaluated more accurately using other criteria, such as its size, heat dispersion, and heat retention. Also, keep an eye out for grills that have heat diffusers over the burners. Not only do these diffusers help to ensure that the heat is distributed evenly, but they also shield the burners from grease that drips down.

How many British Thermal Units (BTUs) should a grill have?

Between 75 and 100 BTUs are required for every square inch of a grill’s heating surface, according to the industry guideline for required BTUs. Customers looking to purchase a grill should give careful consideration to the product’s build quality, the size of the cooking space they need, and the grill’s capacity to provide even heat throughout the whole surface of the cooking area.

Is barbecuing with propane healthier than grilling with charcoal?

On the other hand, propane comes out on top as the fuel that is best for your health and those around you. It all comes down to the carcinogens that find their way into your food, the fact that charcoal has a reputation for being dirtier, and the fact that propane has a considerably less carbon footprint than charcoal does.

How frequently do you need to season grill grates made of cast iron?

Periodic Cleaning. It is recommended that you re-season your grids once every four months or twice throughout. Your cast-iron frying grids will preserve their shine and stay protected from corrosion.

What are the benefits of doing a barbecue that runs on propane?

A propane grill can often achieve its peak cooking temperature in fewer than 15 minutes, providing several different ways to prepare food. Propane gives you the ability to cook however you want, whenever you want, regardless of whether you want to use indirect heat or several cooking zones.

Do propane grills create carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of barbecues that use charcoal or propane. If the barbecue does not have adequate ventilation, the surrounding area can quickly become quite dangerous for anyone in it. Carbon monoxide is produced in significant quantities by grills; if you do not take the appropriate safety precautions, you might endanger the health of everyone in the area.

Which one, natural gas or propane, is more cost-effective?

This indicates that the energy content of propane is more than double that of natural gas. Natural gas may have a lower price per gallon, but you will need more to heat the same number of items as you would with propane. Propane produces twice as much heat as other fuels; therefore, its use results in lower overall fuel use. Propane comes out on top in this combined round because of its superior efficiency and total cost.

Should I bring the propane tank inside during the summer?

It is still possible to keep your propane tank placed outside on a level, stable surface even when the weather is warm. You should maintain the tank in a shady place so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods. This will ensure that the tank’s temperature remains safe and does not surpass 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).

Final thoughts!

Each grill feature has varying degrees of importance, and only you can determine if it’s essential or not. Features helpful to one griller may not be helpful to another because of differences in cooking preferences and methods.

Assuming you have the money, you can be as fancy as you like with your grill, complete with all the bells and whistles. If you’re on a tighter budget, you may want to skip the bells and whistles and instead invest in a grill with significantly greater essentials.